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Waratahs 2020

Brumby Runner

David Wilson (68)
Like leather footballs, "traditional 7s" are a thing of the past.

You have made that assertion a few times FP, but look at the later part of the Brumbies/Rebels trial when Jarome Brown was on the field. He is a typical pilferer type of No 7 and won quite a bit of turnover ball or at least slowed down the Rebels delivery. There is a place for a ball winning No 7 in any team imo.
 

cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
You have made that assertion a few times FP, but look at the later part of the Brumbies/Rebels trial when Jarome Brown was on the field. He is a typical pilferer type of No 7 and won quite a bit of turnover ball or at least slowed down the Rebels delivery. There is a place for a ball winning No 7 in any team imo.

There is. But there does not have to be, depending upon how the team is structured. Some teams play 2 6/7 hybrids. I think it is more essential these days that there are multiple players in each team who can, when needed, "earn" a pilfer (more often "earn" a penalty in at the apparent attempt to actually steal the ball). Front rowers and centres, for example. Over last year we saw a drift back to the "hands on ball, I'm really trying to actually win the ball despite not actually doing it" routine in International rugby especially. Last RWC was a good example.
I think FP is right in that the old dogma of positional requirements is changing all the time. But, of course, an "old school" open-side can always work in the right environment.
 
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Bobby Sands

Guest
You have made that assertion a few times FP, but look at the later part of the Brumbies/Rebels trial when Jarome Brown was on the field. He is a typical pilferer type of No 7 and won quite a bit of turnover ball or at least slowed down the Rebels delivery. There is a place for a ball winning No 7 in any team imo.

Its an argument to support Hooper. Wouldn't buy in. Its like talking to the GOP about Trump.
 
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Bobby Sands

Guest
If your contention is correct Jagman, then I would estimate the Saffas have only sufficient players to put together one Super side. We are not so badly off as most on here would have us believe.

I can't remember a time I was more optimistic about Australian rugby.

I think we have had a pretty poor decade of talent, and potentially pathways - yet we are about to be topped up by a generational group.

Its not just talent either, its work ethic and professionalism that the previous gen didn't have (much reported).

Its crazy how good Wilson, Wright, Mark N (Nawaqanitawase), Lucas, Noah, Harrison, McReight etc are already.
 

Blackadder

Desmond Connor (43)
Penney has really inherited a mess left by the previous no forward man. Again important players were not replaced and areas requiring massive improvement in recruitment were again ignored IE big strong running forwards. And before anyone says who was available please see the amount the reds have on their books.
 

molman

Peter Johnson (47)
@Blackadder - Penny made mention of the fact (no say in selection of squad really) in Super Rugby Launch interview (https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/rugby/super-rugby/penney-praises-tahs-squad!762032)

I'm a little more optimistic. I'm liking what I'm seeing from Bell and Dempsey is showing some of his former promise. I think HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is pretty handy in open play and will continue to improve. Heck every clubman Abel was impressing me in the trail.

The forwards weren't looking too bad when the starting XV were on for the trail last night. The Reds definitely have some sort of second row factory up there I will admit.

It will be a year or two before we can really see what a Penny team might truely look like but in the mean time the recent RCW really highlighted that Rugby can be played a lot of ways with the likes of teams like Japan.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
You have made that assertion a few times FP, but look at the later part of the Brumbies/Rebels trial when Jarome Brown was on the field. He is a typical pilferer type of No 7 and won quite a bit of turnover ball or at least slowed down the Rebels delivery. There is a place for a ball winning No 7 in any team imo.


The tackle rules have changed and made that style much more difficult to do successfully, pilfering has become a skill each player has to have rather then one specialist.

Just look at old tapes of say Smith or Pocock when they were getting thousands of turnovers and run a ruler over what would be "legal" today

All the good 7s can do it but there are just far fewer opportunities where it is possible. So they adapt, the best current 7s have to be more than just a fetcher, the likes Savea , Cane & Hooper all just do more
 

Blackadder

Desmond Connor (43)
@Blackadder - Penny made mention of the fact (no say in selection of squad really) in Super Rugby Launch interview (https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/rugby/super-rugby/penney-praises-tahs-squad!762032)



I'm a little more optimistic. I'm liking what I'm seeing from Bell and Dempsey is showing some of his former promise. I think HJH (Harry Johnson-Holmes) is pretty handy in open play and will continue to improve. Heck every clubman Abel was impressing me in the trail.



The forwards weren't looking too bad when the starting XV were on for the trail last night. The Reds definitely have some sort of second row factory up there I will admit.



It will be a year or two before we can really see what a Penny team might truely look like but in the mean time the recent RCW really highlighted that Rugby can be played a lot of ways with the likes of teams like Japan.

Yes I saw what Penney said. Really showed what rubbish Gibson and co were. It will take time for some of these kids but after 4 yours of incompetence and fans walking away do the Tahs have time??

For the moment I have faith in Penney as he is trying to fix Gibson's incompetence which like Penney said there will be pain along the way (Hey we had 4 years of Gibson plenty of pain there). He said he wants big bruisers but too late in the season to recruit.

I think for a few players this year will be there make or break to see if they stay. I also believe there will be a massive cleanout at the end of the season
 

molman

Peter Johnson (47)
I think for a few players this year will be there make or break to see if they stay. I also believe there will be a massive cleanout at the end of the season

I'm not giving Gibson excuses, but I'm not sure there were a lot of big bruisers floating around the aussie system last couple of years. At least not of the required standard. I can't say anyone in the SS or NRC has really stood out in that role to me. Too easy for them to go through the NRL pathways if they have those characteristics. Even Cheika had to go abroad to snag Potgieter.

I think we have a number of games to watch before we see what the lay of the land is. A number of contracts expire at the end of this season so it will be interesting to see who stays. Unless Beale and Hunt sharpen up I can't see them still being around come next year. I also suspect we might have some pretty young Super Rugby teams over the next couple of years.

I do wonder if a few of the o/s boys might return to take a stab at gold with a new head coach. Shame McMahon resigned with Suntory till 2023 and to loose Kerevi at this point was a major stuff up. Skelton would obviously be a boon to the Tah's, but just don't see it happening in the near term.

As an aside, what is Gibson doing thse days?
 

Blackadder

Desmond Connor (43)
I'm not giving Gibson excuses, but I'm not sure there were a lot of big bruisers floating around the aussie system last couple of years. At least not of the required standard. I can't say anyone in the SS or NRC has really stood out in that role to me. Too easy for them to go through the NRL pathways if they have those characteristics. Even Cheika had to go abroad to snag Potgieter.



I think we have a number of games to watch before we see what the lay of the land is. A number of contracts expire at the end of this season so it will be interesting to see who stays. Unless Beale and Hunt sharpen up I can't see them still being around come next year. I also suspect we might have some pretty young Super Rugby teams over the next couple of years.



I do wonder if a few of the o/s boys might return to take a stab at gold with a new head coach. Shame McMahon resigned with Suntory till 2023 and to loose Kerevi at this point was a major stuff up. Skelton would obviously be a boon to the Tah's, but just don't see it happening in the near term.



As an aside, what is Gibson doing these days?

Staying away from the Tahs hopefully
 

Blackadder

Desmond Connor (43)
I'm not giving Gibson excuses, but I'm not sure there were a lot of big bruisers floating around the aussie system last couple of years. At least not of the required standard. I can't say anyone in the SS or NRC has really stood out in that role to me. Too easy for them to go through the NRL pathways if they have those characteristics. Even Cheika had to go abroad to snag Potgieter.



I think we have a number of games to watch before we see what the lay of the land is. A number of contracts expire at the end of this season so it will be interesting to see who stays. Unless Beale and Hunt sharpen up I can't see them still being around come next year. I also suspect we might have some pretty young Super Rugby teams over the next couple of years.



I do wonder if a few of the o/s boys might return to take a stab at gold with a new head coach. Shame McMahon resigned with Suntory till 2023 and to loose Kerevi at this point was a major stuff up. Skelton would obviously be a boon to the Tah's, but just don't see it happening in the near term.



As an aside, what is Gibson doing thse days?

Again explain the reds.

Everyone else has found them Tahs didn't want them
 
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Bobby Sands

Guest
That list is pretty endless

Of course.

“Gotta earn the right to go wide”, “of course the game will be decided in the piggies.”

Sometimes I think your posts are written by an algorithm set on rugby cliches.

But good stuff nonetheless, keep “cracking on.”
 
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